Can I just say something about BMI...it's STUPID.

[forthe100thtime]

I feel so much better for that, and whilst I am at it, those charts with height and weight scales always telling me I should be 7ft9 to just fall into the ok weight category they're stupid as well.

I have met with many a health professional, NHS, Private and Alternative therapy over my 3 decade battle with weight - and the most achievable and realistic goal I have been set is this:

Your waist in inches should be half your height in inches.

I am 69 inches (5ft9) and therefore my waist should be 34.5inches.

I did this once - and I looked and felt great. Other than the fact I had lost weight a stupid way and couldn't maintain the weight loss beyond a month or so I was pretty happy with my lot.

According to  the BMI I was still on the heavy side and I still needed to be 6ft something to get into the normal scale on the chart - but I promise you, set your weight in inches to be half your height as your goal and when you get there then see where you are on the charts and if you feel you need to loose more.

Good luck everyone on your weight loss journey - and remember  to have fun at the same time.

k

[Caz28]

sounds good to me, that would mean I need to lose 4" off my waist which I think is about right! will be interesting to see if that is the case when I have lost my 21 lbs........

[forthe100thtime in reply to Caz28]

Hi Caz28, good luck with your plan and even if you loose the 4"s from your waist and not all the 21llbs - be pretty darned chuffed with yourself -

[LessToLose 4lbs Restart April 2024]

I feel it is inadequate for very short people as well.  I have been dieting and losing consistently for the last 7 months and I am discouraged that I am still well and truly in the obese category - thanks BMI - NOT!

[forthe100thtime in reply to LessToLose]

Honestly we get so hung up and personally mortified that I can't reach the set goals that I loose the will to carry on, but going by this inch measurement makes it so much more realistic, I willow course still weigh in, but it's not my golden measure. 

Good luck lotoloose 

K

[kantara71]

hear hear!

[IndigoBlue61]

I'm only 5'1" so waist of 30 1/2 inches probably about right, but seems a verrrrry long way away . . . 😕 Sigh . . .

I try to enjoy the lifestyle, food, exercise, the whole 'going downwards' and not dwell on how far it is . . . Like being a kid in the back of the car "are we there yet?" !!! Lol 😂

[rosie-2015 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

I love your attitude it is so real😀👍

[Redx1995]

My sister has the same problem but finds it funny. She used to ride for GB in mountain biking and is still extremely active. Every time she had her statistics taken by health professionals they'd be stunned to find that technically her BMI is too high. There's no fat on her full stop and all measurements are well within the recommended range.

For those of us who are over weight, this is purely a guide and not the be all and end all so to speak.

[Linda_Bee 2 stone]

Totally agree.  As well as scales and  a tape measure there's another tool I find useful - it's called a mirror!  I'll also be 69 in a couple of weeks and find I use these tools at different times to make myself feel good and keep up my motivation.  I used the BMI calculator to go from obese to overweight, which made me feel brilliant but now there is such a long gap to get to the normal range I just weigh myself to make sure I don't gain - haven't bothered with BMI.   The mirror is a brilliant tool, especially when I get into clothes that have previously been too small.  I'm reasonably fit, try to walk as much as I can but am too long in the tooth to be hung up on the science of weight loss.  I know what foods are healthy and am fortunate that I love fruit and veg so have just cut out the things that everyone knows aren't good for you.  Consequently I have lost 1st. 4lbs and it hasn't been a chore.  I must admit this forum has helped me tremendously though, so perhaps I should regard this as the fourth tool to the slimmer me!

[Dietbunny2 7lbs in reply to Linda_Bee]

Hi Linda Bee, I am so happy to hear from someone else in their 60's who has been so successful in their weight loss. I am finding it hard to keep going, not least because it is so slow - but at the same time I believe that slow is good for me, as I think that fast loss at my age cannot be a good idea. I don't find losing 5 lb very difficult, but I do find it hard to go beyond that. Plus arthritis means that I have to be more careful about the way I exercise than I used to, even 10 years ago.

You say it hasn't been a chore, you have just cut out stuff you know isn't healthy, and I wonder if there are any particular strategies you used to stop yourself eating the indulgent foods - wine, cheese, cake, biscuits, chocolate, or whatever your own temptations were? (Obviously, those are mine!)

[DownNotUp]

Totally agree with the waist measurement approach.  I like to wear a belt with holes in.  Wear it half-way between my two possible extreme waist measurements i.e expanding and contracting my waist as much as possible.   I loved it when I ran out of holes to tighten the belt and have to ask my oh to punch a new hole in the belt.  It is a great motivator.  Especially when it tightens to remind you that there is no room to stuff anything else into your body.

[suffolkwomble]

Your post has made my day! I am 68 inches tall but my waist is only 31 - happy days! Now if we had to do this measuring my bum / thighs, I'd be in trouble

[Redx1995 in reply to suffolkwomble]

So would I @suffolkwomble

[fenbadger]

like you, I'm not fat. I'm 3' short

[Dietbunny2 7lbs]

Brilliant, fenbadger!